Are you a strong student but don’t do well on standardized tests (ACT,SAT)?

It could be you should explore the “test optional” schools.  Those are schools that allow you to apply without submitting your test scores.  Certainly, you must have other strong areas that will make you a qualified applicant (GPA, Community Involvement, Leadership, etc.)
Among the schools that now are test optional……Agnes Scott, Furman, Sewanee, Wake Forest.

“You Gotta Go to Know” AS THEY SAY IN THE ADMISSIONS WORLD REGARDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COLLEGE VISIT!
College Visits are one if not the most important thing in the college search and selection process. Summer is a great time to do this (even as early as your freshman year), the large schools often have summer school going on so it does give you some sense of campus life. Many families need to use summer as it is the only time to work in a visit.

If you’re not familiar with the college admissions process, it probably seems like it has a language all its own. To help you learn the lingo, here are definitions of some of the college admission terms you’re likely to come across.

Competitive College: A college with a rigorous, highly selective admissions process.

Reach School: A college where admission might be a stretch for you, based on the average GPA and test scores of accepted students and the college’s overall admission requirements.

Safety School: A college where, based on the average GPA and test scores of accepted students, you have a high likelihood of being admitted.

We recommend that you apply to at least 2 in each category.

excerpts taken from Cappex.com